Knitting machine



June 22, 19 37. GRAENZ 2,084,905

KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

Mon/n50 ATTORNEYS June 22, 1937. A. GRAENZ KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1933 4 Shets-Sheet 2 WW m ma Q m WQ K Mm \N .v l L m m% n F hM June 22, 1937. A. GRAENZ KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR: l g him/um KwMwh ATTORNEYS.

v U Q June 22, 1937. A. GRAENZ KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1933 4 Sheets-Shee t 4 IN VENTOR! I I ATTORNEY5.

atented June 22,1937

KNITTING MAC Alfred Graenz, Philadelphia, Pa, assignor to Alired Hofmann, Inc., West New York, N. 5., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 28, 1933, Serial No. 704,273

28 Claims.

This invention relates to knitting machines, and has reference particularly to the knitting of full-fashioned hosiery on the Cotton type of machine. For illustrative purposes the invention is hereby shown as applied to a machine of the Textile Machine Works make; typical instances being illustrated in the patents of Meyer 1,750,-

017 of March 11, 1930 and Bitzer 1,793,669 of February 24, 1931. The principles however are app cable to other makes and other types of knitting machines for the manufacture of hosiery, "usually knitting simultaneously eighteen or twenty-four or other number of stockings, or the leg or foot portions thereof.

The general object of the present invention is to afiord an improved and efilcient actuating mechanism for the conventional yarn carrier rods, particularly to bring about an automatic selective yarn changing operation, that is to say, the laying of two or more yarns (by which is meant yarns from two or more cones or sources of supply) in a predetermined order, for example three yarns interchanged in rotation. By this improvement a required predetermined order or arrangement of laying the several yarns and incorporating them into the successive courses of the stocking or other hosiery may be brought about, for various purposes; for example for the blending or combining of several yarns of substantially the same, but possibly slightly varying character or quality, so as to dilute or difiuse any differences or irregularities in character or quality and thus minimize or render practically invisible the appearance of objectionable rings or stripes in the finished product.

A further and particular object of the invention is to insure that each of the yarn carrier rods, when arrested at the end of its traversing movement, will remain in its exact required position, namely, by restraining the tendency thereof to rebound slightly due to the impact against the usual stop; also to prevent at the same time the tendency to displace, from their exact positions, by the stopping impact of one of the rods, or any other vibratory action, the other or idle rods; either of which actions, by misplacing the thread carriers or guides, tends to obstruct the looping operations or even to cause damage to the machine.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be explained in the hereinafter following description of an'illustrative embodia;

ment thereof or will be manifest to those con- 5 such objects and-advantagesthe present inven= versant with the subject. To the attainment oftion consists in the novel knitting machine, and the novel features of combination, arrangement and construction herein illustrated or described.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a right elevation of a portion of a knitting machine, embodying the present invention, with a number of longitudinal machine parts and shafts shown in transverse section.

Fig. 2 is a right elevation of the controller or assembly of cams controlling the operation of the invention.

Fig. 3 is a right elevation. of one of the cam actuated levers.

Fig. 4 is a front view looking at a downward incline in face view of the elements shown at the upper left part of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, on a smaller scale, is a right elevation similar to Fig. 1 showing more extensively the operating connections and adjacent parts of the machine.

Fig. 6 is a front view at an upward incline I looking in the direction of the arrow 6 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 7 is a front view of one of the carrier rod actuating levers.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 in front perspective view are, a series of diagrams showing successive positions to facilitate explanation of the operation of the' invention.

The general parts of the machine may be substantially conventional and are shown to correspond to some extent with said patents. As already stated the machine may have a consider,- able number of knitting sections for simultaneous manufacture of many stockings. vIn each section of the machine may be the usual bank or row of needles Ell mounted in the needle bed or bar 28, by which they are operated, with a series of sinkers 22 and dividers 23 cooperating with the needles as usual, the sinkers acted on by spring jacks 2 5. With these and other desired or conventional knitting instruments cooperates a series of yarn carriers or guides 29, three particular ones of which, 29 29 and 29, are shown utilized in the operation of the present invention; and for clearness of description the parts cooperating respectively with said three carriers will be described with reference numbers having the same exponents. Thus the yarn or thread carriers or guides 29 are mounted respectively on longitudinal carrier rods 38, .three of which, 80, 30 and to, concern the present invention. The several carrier rods as usual are reci'procated longitudinally to cause the threadlaying traversing. movements of the carriers, and

the rods slide in convenient slideways or guides of which a slideway 3| is indicated.

For the selective longitudinal reciprocation of the rods 30 it is usual to provide a reciprocating actuator or block, and such a block 33 is herein shown, mounted to reciprocate with and slide upon a reciprocating bar 34. The block carries means for imposing friction between it and the bar so that the block will partake of the longitudinal movements of the bar except as limited by stops. The block or box 33 with its friction devices is frequently termed a friction box. The friction bar 34 may reciprocate a fixed distance, for example eighteen inches, and the block or friction box 33 is carried along with the bar, but may be confined to reciprocate for a shorter distance, determined in a well known way by stops, which stops may be adjustable toward and from each other tolengthen or shorten the traverse of the friction block, to correspond with the traversing movement of the thread carriers, for example to shorten the traverse in the process of narrowing or fashioning the knitted fabric.

The several carrier rods 30 are shown as co-operating with a fixed left stop 31 and a fixed right stop 38 for limiting the traversing movementsof the rods and yarn carriers. Each rod in its leftward and rightward movements impacts the left and right stops and is arrested. The longitudinal adjustment of such stops for fashioning or other purposes forms no part of the present invention, and the means therefor is not herein shown, but may for example consist of screw spindles operating stop-carrying nuts in coordination with the adjustment of the stoppage of the friction box or block 33.

For shifting longitudinally the respective carrier rods they are provided with left and right coupling members 4! and 42. These are best shown in Figs. 4 and 6 where the rod 30* has couplings in the form of shoulders or dogs 4| at the left and 42 at the right, the rod 30 hav ing similar shoulders or couplings 4| and 42 and the rod 3!) having couplings 4| and 42. These are shown diagrammatically in Figs, 8 and 10. Each coupling member includes a screw adiustable contact or pin 43. Each rod therefore comprises a pair of couplings or shoulders spaced apart and these are adapted to be contacted and thrust longitudinally by complementary coupling or contact members carried back and forth by the friction block 33 as will be described. In Fig. 6 the three rods 30 are centrally broken away and omitted to show the system of levers 54, 55 to be described.

The friction box or block 33 has a front extentension or plate 44 carrying the mechanism to be described. The block is provided with a rear extension 45 and this has an aperture looselysurrounding a preexisting longitudinal axle 46. To hold steady the block 33 the extension 45 is continued and atits lower rear end is recessed to engage and slide upon a longitudinal [bar 41 shown square. The bar 41 may be of short length, suflicient for guiding the block in its reciprocating movements; and to hold it there may be a pair of transverse braces 48 each at its upper end engaging the square bar 41 and being .shaped to engage at three points the heavy longitudinal shaft 26, which may be one of the preexisting shafts in the machine such as the one which bodily carries the narrowing mechanism. To steady further the brace 48 it is shown as having a downwardly extending bracket 49 attached by and 30.

set screw upon a fixed axle 50 considerably below the shaft 26.

The front extension or plate portion 44 of the friction block 33 is arranged to carry a system of coupling devices, one for each of the carrier rods 30 or to cooperate with the shoulders or dogs 4i and 42 thereof. To accommodate the coupling or thrusting means on the block extension the latter is shown as comprising a plate 52 spaced from the plate 44 but rigidly secured thereto by a pair of stout studs 53, shouldered where they enter the plates 44 and 52 and between the plates serving also as fulcrums or axles for the coupling means.

Accommodated between the plates 44 and 52 of the friction block e tension are the coupling devices, one for each of the carrier rods 30, 30

Each coupling device is shown as consisting of a pair of oppositely arranged levers 54 and 55, so that there are three left levers 54 54 and 54 cooperating with the coupling dogs M 4| and 4! and three right levers 55 55 and 55 cooperating with the coupling dogs 42, 42 and 42. The arrangement is such that each of the levers may exert a thrusting action on its cooperating dog so as to move the corresponding rod; each left lever thus being capable of thrusting leftward its rod and each right lever capable of thrusting rightward its rod, to give traversing shift movements, all under the control to be described.

The three left levers 54 are fulcrumed on the left stud 53 and the three right levers 55 on the right stud 53. As shown in Fig. 7 the hub 56 of each lever 54 or 55 is formed with a hole 51 by which it is mounted on the stud 53, and the hub of each l'ever has an upstanding finger 58 and adjacent thereto a shorter finger 59, for purposes to be described. The three fingers 58 of the three levers 54 are connected respectively with the three fingers 58 of the three levers 55 by a system of compression springs 60. These springs therefore give a constant tendency in all of the levers to swing quickly downwardly to their operative positions in line with the contacts 43 of the coupling dogs 4| and 42 of the respective carrier rods.

When it is desired to render inoperative the system of levers 54, 55 this may be done by a pair of throw-off" shafts 62 turning in the plates 44, 52. As indicated in Figs. 4 and 7 each of these shafts has a depending lug 63, which is normally inoperative, leaving the levers under the action of the springs 60. Each of the shafts 62 has at its front end a handle 64 extending upwardly in front of the plate 52. When the two handles 64 are thrown outwardly, or from each other the depending lugs are thrown inwardly or toward each other, thereby pressing upon and swinging the short fingers 59 and elevating the levers 54 and 55 to inoperative positions. When restored the lugs release the levers. Each throwoff shaft 62 has a rear head 65 with detent notches, and on top of the plate 44 is mounted a detent spring 66 adapted to engage one or the other of the notches and thus hold each of the shafts in its operative or inoperative position to which it has been set.

Coming now to the selective control means for operating the levers 54 and 55 that reciprocate longitudinally with the friction block 33, such control means may take different forms so long as it gives the equivalent of the operation indicated in the diagrams, which may be preliminarily outlined as follows.

in Find the lover or shifter 55 acting on the log it has-moved or thrust the carrier rod to.

to the right until. it has come to rest against the fixed stop The rods 3% and 30 are shown now in their right positions, while the rod W is in its left position. Not only has the thrusting member or lever 55 thus brought the rod it to its right hand stopped position, but as a special feature it has confined the rod in that position, holding it at rest, the lever preventing leftwardreboimol while the stop 38 arrests rightward movement. Not-only this, but as preferably operated the rightward shift of the friction block and lever system has brought the thrust lever 55 against the shoulder of the rod 30 so that that rod, already in its right position, is

held against possible rebound, by vibration of the stop it or other cause, being similarly confined. between its thrust lever and the stop.

On the return shift or traverse of the friction block about to occur the left thrust lever 5d wi-il next shift leftward the rod 36 leaving the rod 8b; in its right position." This next action is shown efiected by reason of the lowered position of the left lever 5d, the levers 56 and 56 being shown-held lifted or inoperative by the control means to be described, so that the left traversing movement shifts only the rod 30. v The end of this movement is represented by Fig.

9% wherein not only lever5t but all three left levers are shown lowered, as the levers 56 and iiti may be as soon as their ends have passed over the coupling lug or-lugs of the idle rods. The a'ctivelever 5t having now brought the rod th to its left position, the levers b6 and 5t act to confine the rods the and 3t in their left positions, against the fixed stop, against possible displacement by vibration or rebound.

Preparatory to the next or rightward movement the control means has reset the right levers, as seen in Fig. 9, so that only the right lever 55 is lowered and operative it acting to.

thrust the rod eb rightward, to the position shown in Fig. idfwherein again the two rods that now stand at their right positions are there confined against the fixed stops 3% by their respective right levers, against displacement. The next leftward traverse will similarly shift rod 36 leftward and there hold or look rods 36 and 3d; and following actions will be on the same principle.

The control means for operating the thrust levers is herein shown as having a fixed position such as to cooperate alternately with the left levers and the right levers of the thrust lever system. Such arrangement is herein permitted by the fact that the combined left and right thrust levers have a total length longer than the usual extent of throw or traverse of the friction block, which may be for examplefourteen inches more or less. 7

The control of the thrust lever movements is shown efiected by a system of control levers or cam operated members it, three in number, marked respectively ill it and iii shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 6 and their operative ends shown 1 in diagrams Figs. 8, 9 and 10. In the right elevation Fig. i, for convenience of illustration, the

rightthrust-lev'ers tit, and the carrier rods below them, arebrolren away on the line i! of Fig.

a, so that the top or contact ends of the cam lelower ends, all of them having holes 13 by which they are fulcrumed on a common axle or a stud i l.

The mounting and operation of the control levers or cam members Hi lo and 70 by which the system of thrust levers is actuated will now be described. As already indicated the control system may be located in a longitudinally fixed position, not partaking of the traversing movements of the friction block. This arrangement is indicated in the diagrams by the fact that the three control levers remain in a relatively central position, while the friction block and carried thrust levers reciprocate longitudinally. The combined system of thrust levers preferably has a total greater than the traversing movement so that the control levers will always be below either the left set or right set-of thrust levers and can pass from one set to the other; if the traverse be longer than the thrust lever system suitable stops may uphold the thrust levers against taking positions conflicting with the control levers.

Thus in Figs. 8 and 10, the control levers are shown cooperating with the left thrust levers, to set them as required for the next leftward traversing movement, to carry the desired rod leftward, and that rod only; while at the other extreme, shown in Fig. 9, the control levers cooperate with the right set of thrust levers for a similar purpose. It will be noticed that as each traversing movement progresses the thrust levers pass out of control of the control lever. This is after they have passed the coupling dog position, and too late to engage a. dog, except that the selected thrust lever is down and has already engaged and is thrusting a dog. The passing out of control of the other levers is important, because this permits all the thrust levers to be lowered, including the one which is to engage the idle carrier rod dog and prevent rebound. It will be seen in Fig. 8, that the thrust lever Et has lifted and is about to pass leftward over the carrier rod dog M preventing actuation thereof, and permitting release and drop of the lever immediately afterward. The lower sides of the thrust levers,, contacted by the control, levers, are substantially horizontal when in their elevated positions, as appears in Fig. 5 and Figs. 8-10, so that the control levers retain their control as described to hold elevated certain of-the thrust levers until safely past the cooperating shoulders or dogs of the carrier rods.

By this arrangement a simple system of lifting and lowering selectively the control levers suffices to give the desired control and operation of the rods, each control lever which is not lifted, at the start of any traverse, allowing the corresponding thrust-lever to be lowered or remain down by gravity supplemented by springs 60, thus becoming operative to engage the shoulder or dog of the corresponding carrier rod and effect the iongitudinal shift of that rod while the other rods remain idle.

The three control levers Hi on their common fulcrum studs M are shown mounted on a fixed frame is disclosed in Figs. 1 and 4 -6. This frame or carriage when once correctly adjusted requires no longitudinal movement and is preferably mounted in a. fixed position. Such mounting for example may be as follows. The frame 15 has a lower head 15 with at least three contact points bearing on a suitable shaft or axle 21, which may be a preexisting shaft such as the catch-bar shaft of the usual machine, at a level considerably lower than the axle 50. The frame is shown also as provided with an upper head TI having similar engagement upon the narrowing mechanism shaft 26. The middle part of the frame has an aperture engaging upon the axle 58, where it may be held against longitudinal movement by a set screw 18.

The frame 15 is designed with an upward extension which gives support to the fulcrum stud 14 of the control levers; and at the top of the extension 80 is a box-like slideway or support 8| enclosing loosely the upper ends of the three control levers, allowing each of them limited play in its own plane.

The timing means or operating cams for the control levers may for convenience be mounted adjacent the frame 15 on the axle 50. Spaced rightward from the frame 15 is shown a collar 83 attached by a set screw to the axle, and, rotating loosely on the axle, confined longitudinally between the frame and the collar, is shown a sleeve 84 adapted to rotate and carryingthe cams and parts about to be described.

Keyed upon the sleeve 84 is a cam assemblage 85 consisting preferably of three separately constructed cams 85, 85 and 85 engaging respectively the cam follower ends 12 of the control levers I0 10 and 18. These cams are shown as disks with peripheral contours operating upon the lever ends. The contours are largely concealed in Fig. 1, but are fully indicated in Fig. 2. Each cam has at least one low dwell w, a rise at, a high dwell y and a drop a, each rise lifting the corresponding control lever and each drop lowering it. The three cams are arranged out of time or in successive relations with each other so as to operate the control levers in the desired order as already indicated.

As it is preferred to advance the cams step by step from each low dwell to the next high dwell,

and vice versa, it is convenient to construct each cam with a plurality of complete contours. Thus as shown in Fig. 2 each cam has four low dwells, four rises, four high dwells and four drops, giving four complete operations of the corresponding control lever with each complete turn of the sleeve 84. The three cams are timed to act in sequence, as shown, so that in one operation one cam lever only will be lowered, the next cam lever having been raised before the first is lowered and the third cam lever being raised as the first is lowered. By this arrangement there Will be twelve cam actions and twelve dwells, and during each dwell period, two of the control levers remain raised, and one lowered, according to the operations and for the purposes indicated in the diagrams Figs. 8, 9 and 10.

The intermittent advance of the cam sleeve 84 and the system of cams 85 thereon is preferably effected by pawl and ratchet operation, giving quick adjusting movements of the control levers followed by dwells thereof. To retain the sleeve and cams in each of their twelve successive positions, there is keyed to the sleeve a detent wheel 8'! having twelve V-shape notches, and cooperating therewith is a detent lever 88 having a V- shape detent adapted to engage the notches of the wheel and to bring the wheel and cam system accurately to each of its twelve positions and yieldingly there hold it. The detent lever is shown mounted on a post 89 extending rightwardly from the frame 15 and a spring 90 connects the free end of the lever with a part of the frame so as to pull the detent into the successive notches.

, sure upon the pawl.

The intermittent advance of the sleeve and cam system is shown effected by means of a ratchet wheel 93keyed upon the sleeve, this having twelve teeth corresponding to the twelve positions of the cams, and a. pawl 94 engaging the teeth and oscillated to advance the ratchet and connected parts to the desired extent, in this case 30 of arc, the detent preventing reverse motion and accurately positioning the parts after each advance. The pawl 94 is shown mounted on a swinging pawl carrier 95 turning loosely on the sleeve 84. A spring 96 is arranged to maintain engaging pres- The pawl carrier arm 95 is shown as oscillated by suitable automatic connections including a link 91 extending from the rear arm 98 of a lever having a fulcrum 99 at a low point in the machine as seen in Fig. 5, the lever having a forward arm Hill on which is mounted a follower or roll |8I contacting a cam I82 on a convenient shaft I03 operated to make one rotation for each cycle, that is for each traverse of the friction block. The cam I02 being shown as an open cam a spring I84 is arranged to pull upon the lever 98, I08 to maintain the follower in engagement with the cam and to pull back the pawl and carrier after each action.

The invention involves at least three carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying traversing movements, with a longitudinally reciprocating block or other member having or carrying mechanism for selectively shifting the rods to bring about the desired changes of yarn; and is shown as comprising a pair of dogs on each rod, meaning shoulders, projections or any coupling means, and on the block a coupling device for each rod, cooperating with its dogs. Each such device may consist of two thrusters, of lever or other form, illustratively shown independent, cooperable with the rod dogs for thrusting the rods left and right.

With these elements is combined an automatic or timed controller, or'cam means, for effecting the required movements of the coupling devices.

The thrust levers of each pair are shown pivoted adjacently on the block, and extending oppositely, their combined length being shorter than the space between the rod dogs, by a slight clearance; and both of these lengths being preferably longer than the traverse of the block, all as well brought out in the diagrams.

When each rod is thrust along for its traverse it comes to its fixed stop, and it is thereupon confined and positioned positively between such stop and its thrust lever; while at the same time an adjacent rod or rods, lying idle at the same end, is similarly confined and held against displacement by such stop and its thruster. These features are important for perfect operation.

When three yarns are being blended the order of operation may be yarn A end leftward, yarn B rightward, yarn C leftward, yarn A rightward, yarn B leftward, yarn C rightward, and repeat, as partly illustrated in Figs. 8-10. The illustrated cams are shown designed for such operation, but manifestly could be designed for different operations, or equivalents of cams could be used.

A knitting machine has thus been described having carrier rod traversing and stopping mechanism operating on the principles of the present invention. Since many matters of combination, arrangement and construction may be variously modified without departing from the pn'nclples set forth it is not intended to limit the invention to such matters except to the extent set forth in the appended claims.

aosaeos t is claimed is:

1. A knitting machine having a series of at least three yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying 5 traversing movements, a longitudinally reciproeating friction device, and mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it characterized by the combination of coupling means comprising two N shoulders on each rod, a plurality of coupling devices on the friction device, one for each rod, each of said coupling devices consisting of two thrusters movable on the friction device into and out of coupling position and adapted to coact it with said shoulders for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, and a controller for effecting predetermined movements of the severalcoupling devices on the friction device into and out of coupling position, thereby to 26 bring about selectively, in predetermined order,

the yarn-laying shifts of the carrier rods.

2. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein the controller comprises cam means and each coupling device on the friction, device comprises two 25 thrusting levers independently movable by the cam means to cause one only of said rods to shift in each traverse and to change to another rod on the next traverse.

. 3. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein each 30 coupling device comprises a pair of levers pivoted on the friction device and extending from each other with their thrusting ends spaced slightly closer together than the spacing between the two shoulders on the rod.

4. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein each coupling device comprises a pair of levers pivoted on the friction device'and extending from each other with their thrusting ends spaced slightly closer together than the spacing between the two shoulders on the rod, and said shoulders being spaced apart farther than the length of the traversing movement of the friction device.

5. A machine as in claim 1 and wherein each coupling device on the friction device comprises two thrusting levers independently movable by the controller to cause one only of said rods to shift in each traverse and tochange to another rod on the next traverse, the thrusting ends of the levers being spaced slightly closer together than the spacing between the rod shoulders.

6. A knitting machine having a series of at least three yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in theiryarn-laying traversing movements, with fixed stops limiting the left and right traversing movements of the rods, a longitudinally reciprocating friction device, and mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it characterized by the combination of coupling means comprising two dogs on each rod, a plurality of coupling devices on the friction device, one for each rod each consisting of two thrusters or levers movable on the friction device into and out of coupling position and adapted to coast with said dogs for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, and a timed controller or cam means for effecting predetermined movements of the several coupling devices on the friction device into and out of coupling position, thereby to bring about selectively, in predetermined order, the yarn-laying traverses of the carrier rods, and to terminate each traverse of each rod with a positive confining and positioning thereof" between said fixed stop and said thruster.

7. A machine as in claim 6 and wherein the control means is so timed that when each rod is brought to and confined at one end of its traverse, another rod lying idle at the same end is similarly confined and positioned.

8. In a knitting machine actuating means including a friction box shiftable leftward and rightward for causing traverse in rotation of three or more carrier rods, stops forthe several rods at each end of their traverse, and complementary rod engaging means movable'traversely with said friction box and operable respectively upon the left and right shifts thereof, each of said means comprising a plurality of rod engaging members, one of such members engaging and traversely shifting an active rod in each traversing operation and thereupon confining and holding the shifted rod against its stop at the end of its active traverse, and another of such members in the same traversing action engaging and holding against its stop another rod resting idly at the same end, whereby each traversed active rodand adjacent idle rod are prevented from rebound or displacement from their stopped positions.

9. In a knitting machine having three or more carrier rods, a fixed stop means for the several rods at each end of their traverse, and for each rod a thrust means to cause its shifting traverse in rotation with the other rods, said several thrust means being adjustable independently of each other between operative and idle positions, means for traversely shifting all the thrust means in each traversing operation, means for selectively controlling for each traverse shift the adjustment of each thrust means as between operative and idle positions, with methodical change of control to cause the said operation of the rods in rotation, each thrust means when making an operative shift being adapted to cause the traverse of its rod and at the end of each active traverse shift to confine and hold its rod against said stop means, and when making an idle shift to cooperate at the completion of such idle shift with its idle rod to confine and hold the latter against said stop means, thus preventing rebound thereof.

10. In a knitting machine having three or more carrier rods, each with two shoulders for driving it, stop means for the several rods at each end of their traverse, and for each rod a separate thrust means to engage its shoulders and cause its shifting traverse in rotation with the other rods, said several thrust means beingadjustable independently of each other between operative and idle positions, means for traversely shifting all the thrust means in each traversing operation, cam means for selectively controlling for each traverse shift the adjustment of each thrust means as between operative and idle positions, with methodical change of control to cause the said operation of the rods in rotation, each thrust means when making an operative shift being adjusted to cause the traverse of its rod and at the end of such shift to confine and hold its rod against said stop means, and when making an idle shift to cooperate at the completion of such idle shift with one with a longitudinally reciprocating friction box, and three rod-engaging means carried by and traversely shiftable with said friction box, each of said rod-engaging means being adjustable independently of the others between operative and inoperative positions; with control connections operating to vary methodically the positions of said several rod-engaging means to cause said means to engage selectively the carrier rodsto thrust them leftward and rightward in rotation in successive traverses, and to cause each of said means to hold its rod against its stop at the end of its each rod-shifting traverse to prevent rebound thereof, and to cause another of said means in the same traverse to engage and hold positively against displacement at the same end of such traverse an idle carrier rod resting there.

12. A knitting machine having a series of three or more yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward .in their yarn-laying traversing movements, a longitudinally reciprocating friction device, and mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it, said mechanism comprising coupling means including two shoulders on each rod spaced far apart longitudinally and with their contact sides facing each other, a plurality of coupling devices on the friction device for the operation of the several rods, each of said coupling devices comprising a pair of relatively movable thrusters and each thruster adapted to take a position between said shoulders on the corresponding rod and being movable on the friction device into and out of coupling position and having the contact faces of such thrusters spaced apart less than the spacing of, the contact faces of said shoulders and adapted to coact with the contact faces of said shoulders for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, and a control means for effecting predetermined movements of the thruster pairs of the several coupling devices on the friction device into and out of coupling position, comprising three or more separate controllers or cams, one for each coupling device, and a common means to advance" progressively the several controllers to cause laying of yarns in predetermined order.

13. A knitting machine having a series of three or more yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying traversing movements, a longitudinally reciprocating friction device, and mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it, said mechanism comprising coupling means comprising two shoulders on each rod, spaced widely apart longitudinally, a plurality of coupling devices on the friction device for the operation of the several rods, each of said coupling devices movable on the friction device into and out of coupling position and having contact faces spaced widely apart adapted to coact with said shoulders for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, and a control means comprising separate cams for effecting predetermined movements of the several coupling devices on the friction device into and out of coupling position, one cam for each coupling device, and said control means and cams being longitudinally fixed in location and no partaking of the reciprocation of said friction device, and a common means to advance progressively the several cams thereby to control theoperation of the rods to cause laying of yarns in predetermined order.

14. A knitting machine having a series of three or more yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying traversing movements, a longitudinally reciprocating friction device, and mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it, said mechanism comprising two shoulders on each rod spaced longitudinally far apart, aplurality of coupling devices on'the friction device for the operation of the several rods, each of said coupling devices movable on the friction device into and out of coupling position and having widely spaced apart contact faces adapted to coact with said shoulders for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, a control means for effecting predetermined movements of the several coupling devices on the friction device into and out of coupling position, a fixed frame carrying the control means, said control means comprising three or more separate controllers or cams, one for each coupling device, means to advance progressively the several controllers to cause laying of yarns in predetermined order, and three levers mounted on the frame to be swung in rotation by the controllers and to communicate the control to the coupling devices on the block.

15. A knitting machine having a series of three or more yarn carried rods longitudinally-shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying traversing movements, a longitudinally reciprocating member, and mechanism operated by the member for selectively shifting the rods longitudinally with it, said mechanism comprising coupling means comprising two shoulders on each rod, a plurality of coupling devices on the member for the operation of the several rods, each of .said devices comprising a pair of thrust levers cooperable with the shoulders on the rods, and movable on the member into and out of coupling position and adapted to coact with said shoulders for thrusting the corresponding rod in left and right directions, and a control means for effecting predetermined movements of the several coupling devices on the member into and out of coupling position, said control means being mounted in fixed location, and adapted in one position of the member to cooperate with one set of thrust levers thereon and in the opposite position of the member with the other set of thrust levers, and said control means comprising three or more separate controllers or cams, one for each coupling device, and a common means to advance progressively the several controllers to cause laying of yarns in predetermined order.

16. In a knitting machine actuating means including a reciprocating block, for causing traverse in rotation of three carrier rods, stop means for the rods at each end of their traverse, and means traversely movable with said block comprising three separate and independently shiftable members for confining and holding the respective rods each against its stop at the end of its active traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, and for positively confining and holding against displacement at the same end any idle rod resting there and control means for independently shifting said three members.

17. In a knitting machine having three carrier rods, each with two operating shoulders, stop means for several rods at each end of their traverse, and for each rod a lever device to engage its shoulders and cause its shifting traverse in rotation with the other rods, means for traversing all the lever devices in each traversing operation, means for selectively controlling on each traverse the position of each lever device as between operative and idle positions, with methodi- & cal change of control to cause the said operation of the rods in rotation, each lever device when making an operative shift being adapted to cause the traverse of its rod and at the end of said traverse to confine and hold the rod against said stop means, and when making an idle shift to cooperate with an-idle rod to confine and hold the latter against said stop means, thus preventing rebound.

185A knitting machine having, at least three yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-layingtraversing movements, and stops limiting the left and right traversing movements of the three rods, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocating member, and three separate rod engaging means carried by and relatively movable upon and traversely shiftable with said member; with control' connections to each of said rod engaging means operating to vary methodically the posi- 25 tion of said respective rod engaging means to cause said three means to engage selectively the three carrier rods to thrust them leftward and rightward in sequence in successive traverses, and to cause said respective rod engaging means to 30 hold each its rod against its stop at the end of its each traversing shift to prevent rebound thereof, and to cause said means at the end of its non-traversing shift to engage and hold positively against displacement its idle carrier rod resting there.

19. In a knitting machine actuating means including a reciprocating block for causing traverse in rotation of three carrier rods, stop means for the rods at each end of their traverse, and means traversely movable with said block comprising a plurality of separate levers relatively adjustable independently on the block for confining and holding the respective rods each against its stop at the end of its active traverse, thereby preventing rebound thereof, and for confining and holding against displacement at the same end any idle rod resting there, and control means for independently adjusting said separate levers.

20. In a knitting machine having a plurality of carrier rods, each with two operating shoulders, stop means for the several rods at each end of their traverse, and a plurality of lever .devices adapted to engage the shoulders of the rods and cause shifting traverse of the rods in predeter- 55 mined order, each lever device comprising separate levers to act'on the shoulders of the corresponding rod, means for reciprocating all the lever devices in each traversing operation, meansior selectively controlling on each reciprocation the position of the levers of each lever device as between operative and idle positions, with methodical change of control to cause the said predetermined operation of the rods, each lever device when making an operative shift being adapted to cause by one of its levers the traverse of a rod and at the end of said traverse to confine and hold such rod against said stop means, and when making an idle shift to cooperate with an idle rod to confine and hold the latter against said stop means, thus preventing rebound.

21. A machine as in claim 20 and wherein the selective controlling means comprises a plurality of selector cams, one for each lever device, and means automatically advancing the cams.

22. A knitting machine having at least three yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yam-laying traversing movements, and stops limiting the left and right traversing movements of the three rods, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocating block, and a plurality of separate rod engaging devices each comprising separate levers all carried by and relatively movable upon and traversely shiftable with said block; with separate control connections to the several rod engaging devices operating to vary methodically the position of the separate levers of said devices to cause said levers to engage selectively the carrier rods to thrust them leftward and rightward in sequence in successive traverses, and to cause said levers to hold each traversed rod against its stop at the end of its traversing shift to prevent rebound thereof, and to cause each of said devices at the end of its non-traversing shift to engage and hold against displacement an idle carrier rod resting there.

23. A knitting machine having a plurality of yarn carrier rods longitudinally shiftable leftward and rightward in their yarn-laying traversing movements, each rod having two operating shoulders, one for communicating to it traverse in each of said directions, and stops, limiting the left and right traversing movements of the several rods, in combination with a longitudinally reciprocating block, and means carried by and traversely shiftable with said blockfor-operating said rods, comprising a set of separate and relatively shiftable levers for engagement with rod shoulders for effecting traverse in one direction and a similar set of such levers for efiecting traverse in the other direction; with control connections to each of said rod shoulder engaging levers in each set thereof operating to vary methodically the position of said respective levers to cause said levers to engage selectively the carrier rods to thrust them leftward and rightward in sequence in successive traverses, and to cause said levers to hold each traversed rod against its stop at the end of its traversing shift to pre-. vent rebound thereof, and to cause said levers each at the end of a non-traversing shift to engage and hold positively against displacement an idle carrier rod resting there.

24. In combination with knitting machine carrier rods guided for right and left traverse and a reciprocating block, a first set of separately adjustable levers on the block for engaging rods for rightward traverse and a second such set for leftward traverse, and cam means for progressively adjusting said levers to cause them to traverse the rods in predetermined order or sequence, and to hold against rebound each such traversed rod, and at the same time to hold against displacement each idle rod at the same end.

25. In a knitting machine, in combination with three or more yarn carrier rods traversable rightwardly and leftwardly and a friction device reciprocable rightwardly and leftwardly; mechanism operated by the friction device for selec tively traversing the rods, comprising two shoulders on each rod spaced substantially apart and facing rightward and leftward respectively, a plurality of coupling fingers movably mounted on the friction device and so related to the rods that each rod receives its rightward traverse by one of such fingers thrusting against the leftward facing shoulder of the rod and receives its leftward traverse by a difierent one of such fingers thrusting against its rightward facing shoulder, and automatic control means for manipulating the said fingers on the friction device to cause the laying of yarns in predetermined order.

26. A knitting machine as in claim 25 and wherein the two shoulders on each rod face each other with space between sufficiently long for the operation of the coupling fingers.

27. A knitting machine'as in claim 25 and wherein the two shoulders on each rod face each other with space between sufficiently long for the operation of the coupling fingers, and Wherein the two fingers operable on each rod are movable on the friction. device into and from coupling positions with their coupling ends spaced apart less than the spacing of the coupling shoulders on such rod.

28. In a knitting machine, in combination with three or more yarn carrier rods traversable rightwardly and leftwardly and a friction device reciprocable rightwardly and leftwardly; mechanism operated by the friction device for selectively'traversing the rods, comprising two shoulders on each rod spaced substantially apart and facing rightward and. leftward respectively, and on the friction device, for each rod, a pair of coupling fingers each movably mounted on the friction device and so related to the rod that the rod receives its rightward traverse by the thrust of one of such fingers against the leftward facing shoulder of the rod and receives its leftward traverse by the thrust of the other of such fingers against its rightward facing shoulder, and automatic control means for manipulating the several pairs of fingers on the friction device to cause rod actuation and laying of yarns in selective order.

ALFRED GRAENZ.

CERTIFICATE or ooeencrron.

Patent No, 2,084,905. June 22, 1937.

ALFRED GRAENZ.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, second column, line 58, after the word and period "operation. insert the following paragraph:

' In this aspect it is believed to be new to combine with the rods, the limiting stops, and the friction box, rod engaging means carried by or shiftable with the box which operates to prevent rebound or displacement not only of each. rod as it is traversed but also an adj acent idle rod, thus dispensing with fixed-position latches or similar rebound-preventing complications. The two sets of engaging devices or coupling levers,

54 and 55 respectively, complementary in action; may be considered as constituting rod engaging means carried by and traversely shiftable with the box and having the function of causing the left and right shifts of the rods; Combined with these are the described selective control connections operating ,methodi cally to change the position of the rod engaging means on the box in such a manner as to cause such means or devices to engage selectively the carrier rods in proper order to thrust them leftward and rightward in the desired order or rotation in successive traverses. As so operated the rod engaging means is caused to hold each rod against 'its stop at the end of its each traversing shift so as positively to prevent rebound of the rod; and, characteristically with this invention; at the same time the rod engaging means is caused to engage and hold positively against displacement at thecsame end of each traverse the idle carrier 7 rod which rests there Each of the complementary sets engaging means comprises a plural number of engagers or members, shown as three levers, one of which thrusts and holds an active rod, .and another of which engages and holds an idle rod against rebound, at the end of each traverse.

Page 6, second column, line 29, claim 15, for the word "carried" read carrier; line 71, claim 17, before "several" insert the; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conformto the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 21st day of September, A. D. 1937.

, Henry Van Arsdale Acting Commiss oner of Patents.- 

